Custom Ripped Mantel Start To Finish!

This is another mantel that was made from an antique barn beam that was ripped on all sides to yield a dimensionally perfect beam. Personally…I can’t see the sense in using a perfectly good barn beam to to this with…but I tend to do whatever my customers want. It pays the bills! So…here it is!

First we rant the beam through the mill to clean all sides. Then the beam is sanded, conditioned, stained and sealed with urethane. Then we install. Finally…the stone man does his bit.

Thanks for your comment. While cutting the beam does cut away some of the character…it gives the client exactly the dimensions they ask for…so it’s a necessary evil I guess. But the good news is that the cut side always faces either the floor or up against the wall…so the hand hewn sides of the beam are featured in the mantel.